Stopping limiter for lathe slides and the like



s'ToPPING LIuI Filed July 12, 195o 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 12, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 31, 1954 STOPPING LIMITER F Filed July 12. 1950 A. R. UTH

OR LATI-IE SLIDES AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 31, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July l2, 1950 Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE STOPPING LIMITER FOR LATHE SLIDES Claims priority, application Denmark July 28, 1949 8 Claims.

importance of such stopping device, especially in series production, will be eVident. The invention relates to such an adjustable stopping device to limit the motion of mechanically moved slides in machine tools and the like machinery in which the slide is moved by means of a shaft or spindle, for instance, the forward motion of the cross slide of a lathe, but the apparatus may just as well be used to limit the motion of the carriage.

Certain known lathes are provided with a drum stop or turret stop with a number of adjustable stop screws by means of which the motion of the cross-slide may be blocked at positions corresponding to the desired turning diameters, but in these known stopping devices the stop is placed on the cross-slide, so that the pressure between stop and stop screw will be very considerable on account of the high ratio between the movement of the handwheel of the cross-slide spindle and the movement of the cross-slide proper. The consequence is that the elastic deformation of the connecting links between the handwheel with drum scale and the stop of the cross-slide will be great and uncontrollable, wherefore it will be diiiicult to attain even a rough accuracy as that of millimetre on the turned diameter.

These known devices are therefore quite unsuitable for precision turning, and when even reasonably accurate work is required repeated measurings of the thickness of the work during the turning cannot be avoided.

The invention provides a device in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are eliminated and which can work with absolute accuracy. Furthermore, it may be mounted on any ordinary lathe and may be rapidly and simply adjusted,

no calculation being required in connection with the adjustment.

stopping device to the slide, between spindle, along which sets of discs feelers are shiftably arranged in such a manner that they may be made to cooperate with any pair of discs consisting of the iirst, second, third, etc. disc of each of the two sets. According to the invention the transmission between tlie spindle of the slide and one set of discs may be so arranged that this set moves by steps when the spindle is rotating smoothly, one step for each rotation of the spindle. Thereby the result may be obtained that the notched disc serving to Control the full revolutions of the spindle will have its notch in way of the feeler during the last part of the motion of the spindle, so that the pawl may engage the pawlwheel as soon as the notched disc serving to control fractions of revolutions of the spindle has its notch in way of its feeler.

For the above-mentioned shifting of the two feelers along the sets of notched discs the invention provides for a shifting mechanism so arranged and connected with the two feel'ers that by a handle they may be placed in way of the different pairs of discs determined by corresponding positions of rest of the shifting mechanism,

According to the invention the shifting mechanism may conveniently be provided with a turnable curved disc with notches situated at different distances from its centre of rotation to engage a guide tappet pressed against the curved disc by a spring, which 'guide tappet is connected with the lengthwise lshiftable feelers, so that the position of the feelers in the direction of shifting corresponds to the distance between the notch in the curved disc engaging the steering tappet and the axis of rotation.

When pawlwheel and notched disc are placed concentrically on the spindle of the slide, the casing containing the pawl, feelers and shifting mechanism may according to the invention be turnably suspended on or concentrically with the spindle and its angle be adjustably fixed by an adjustment screw cooperating with a stationary part of the lathe. It will thereby be possible to turn the part to which pawl and feeler are attached a fraction of a turn corresponding to the pitch of the pawlwheel. If, for instance, by the use of the device on the cross-slide of a lathe the pitch of the pawlwheel corresponds to a movement of the cross-slide of 1/20 millimetre for each tooth, the various adjustments to which the mechanism may be set will give a difference in turning diameter of a full number of of a millimetre. This will in case of most work be ful-ly satisfactory, as in practice the` measurements given are always in tenth of a millimetre. Only when the first step of, for instance a stepped shaft, is to be turned it will be of importance to be able to adjust the motion of the cross-slide with greater accuracy as regards the adjustment of the mechanism, as explained in the following, and for this purpose serves the above-mentioned adjustment screw, which may, for instance be provided with graduations corresponding to a cross-slide movement of 1/100 millimetre. In the following the invention is explained in detail under reference to the drawing which shows an embodiment of an adjustable stopping device used in connection with the cross-slide of a lathe, and in which Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through the mechanism, axially in relation to the spindle of the cross-slide,

Fig. 2 a cross-section on the line II-II in Figs. 1 and 4,

Fig. 3 a cross-section on the line Ill- III in Figs. 1 and 4,

Fig. 4 a horizontal section on the line IV-IV in Fig'. 2, and

Fig. 5 a vertical, longitudinal section on the line V-V in Fig. 3. I

vIn Fig. 1 I is a shaft in extension of the spindle of the cross-slide and rmly connected therewith.

On shaft I a turnable, hollow shaft 2 is inserted, which carries a pawlwheel 3, see Fig. 3. The pawlwheel may cooperate with a pawl li, pivoted on an axle 6, xed in the casing of the mechanism and actuated by a spring not shown in the drawing which tends to press the pawl up against the pawlwheel 3. The forward surface of the pawlwheel is so arranged that it may engage the teeth of a coupling partner l, shiftable along the shaft I, and by means of which shafts I and 2 may be coupled firmly together, and at its opposite end shaft 2 is provided with a handwheel 8 with a graduated scale on its drumshaped part 9.

Over part of shaft 2 and turnably on the latter isp inserted another hollow shaft IE), to which is affixed an adjustment drum I I, with a graduated scale and a gear-wheel I2. On each of shafts 2 and il] is inserted a set of notched discs I3, consisting of eight discs which as shown in Fig. 2 are provided with notches Ill along their circumference. These discs are held in place by friction, so that the individual disc may be turned in relation to the rest and to the shaft on which it is placed.

In way of each set of discs, or more accurately, in way of a corresponding disc in each set a feeler I5 or I6 is placed, turnably mounted on a common holder I'I, which is shiftably placed on a shaft I8. The end of the feeler is formed as a hook fitting into notches Iii on the notched disc I3, but the feeler is prevented from engaging the notch by dat spring I9, affixed to each feeler and pressing against a stop rod 2B, tending to turn the feeler away the notched disc. This turning movement is limited by a fixed stop rod 2l on the feeler, which rod rests against a stop plate 23 fixed to a release 22, and of such width that it may simultaneously serve as a stop for the stop rods 2l of both feelers. The release 22 is turnably mounted on axle I5, to which also pawl 4 is fixed and actuated by a spring not shown in the drawing so that through the stop plate 23 and the stop rods 2l it forces the feelers I5 and AS6 in against their notched discs I3 with sufficient force to overcome the resistance of the flat spring I9. The hub of the release 22, placed on the axle Ii, is so coupled to the hub of the pawl 4 that the latter at the position of the release shown is kept disengaged from the pawlwheel 3, but which at the commencement of an anti-clockwise turn of the release will engage the pawlwheel.

When the notched discs on shafts 2 and I0 by a turn of the handwheel 8 are turned in such a way that a notch III is in way of each of the feelers i5 and of the latter will pawl It will engage the pawlwheel 3, andthe extreme edge of the stop-plate 23 will slip by the end of the stop rods 2I so that the release 22 may continue its turning movement until it stops by its hook. striking against a curved disc which will be further described in the following. The turning of shaft I and thereby the forward movement of the cross-slide, has now been stopped.

As far as the notched discs placed on shaft 2 are concerned, a notch I4 will coincide with the feeler I5 once for each revolution of the handwheel 8. As regards the notched discs on shaft Il) the same thing will occur once for each turn of that shaft. The gear wheel I2 Xed to shaft I0 engages the geared part of a shaft 2d, the other end of which is likewise geared and engages a single tooth 25 on the side of the pawl-wheel 3. Shaft 24 will therefore turn one tooth space for 5 each turn of the handwheel 8, and by a suitable tween shaft I and shaft 2 and between the latratio between this shaft and the gearwheel I2 ter and shaft I0 is interrupted. Feelers I5 and the result may be attained that a turn of the I6 are released by'pressing a stop button 32 the pawlwheel 3 makes a full revolution. io 33 will press against a stop-plate 36 on the rehandwheel 8 at any 20th of a millimetre within 15 and the release in its turned position the total advance of 4 millimetres, according to Sha t is uncoupled from shaft I by taking the adiustment of the notched disc I3, cooperatthe coupling pai tner 'I away from the pawlwheel ing with feeler I5 in relation to shaft 2 Thus, 3, which 1s done by pressing down a springtenth parts of millimetres within a diameter dif- 20 obliquely at bottom, so that when depressed it such that the latter will turn 1/80 revolution for 25 leased will be carried to the right (see Fig. 1)

the handwheel 8 will be required to turn shaft this way counteracts the uncoupling The pres- I with its notched discs one revolution, corresure rod 39 is provided with a notch 43 which sponding to an advance of the cioss-slide of keeps it in depressed position The rod 4I is 80 4=320 millimetres. It will thus be possible 30 provided with a recess 44, into which a ring 45 cooperating with feelers i and I6, to choose any together with rod 4I. By the abovementioned point at intervals V millime-tre within a length shifting to the right the toothed right end of of advance of 320 millimetres, at which the two shaft 24 is disengaged. from gearwheel I2. notched discs cooperating with the feelers have Thereby the transmission between shafts 2 and their notches coinciding with the feelers and at I0 is interrupted. which, in other words, the pawl 4 will stop the With the feelers coinciding with the first set further advance of the cross-slide. of notched discs, ha-ndwheel 8 and drum II are The device shown may be adjusted to 8 such now separately turned until the feelers drop in-v points corresponding to the 8 notched discs in 40 to their notches, which they can do only one by each set of discs. In order to change the mechn one, as each feeler is pressed in against the anism from one adjustment to another it will notched discs by their springs I9, because the I8 until the feelers coincide with the next pair in the notches of the notched discs drum II and the holder I7 is by means of a spring not shown 50 urn overcoming the friction of these discs.

shaft 2l is likewise provided with a star-shaped, 55 against the release 22 and disengage it from rod cui-ved disc SI, the eight points of which will be 33, which by its spring is pressed up into its in way of the middle of the intervals between original position, whereby stop rod 20 is made to the notches 25. press against the flat springs I9 on the feelers,

After the release of pawl 4, the stop-plate 23 which thereby disengage the notched discs, so on the release 22, will, as previously explained, that the shifting of the holder I7, ca-used by the latter will zmpinge against a stophoolron the 65 described, the stop button 32 having first been ielease 22 and in passing tuin it so that the stopdepressed Continue in the same manner with plate 23 will again slip by the stop rods 2l wheiethe othei adJustments, of which 1n t e embodiby these parts will again be in their oiiginal poment deSCIIbed a total of eight may be made the next notch 29, and the holder I1 has been 70 but there is, of course, nothing to prevent the the next pair of notched discs. The shafts aie now again coupled up by 15H5- By the adjustment of discs I3 to the desired ing the coupling button 38 to its original positurning diameters, feelers I5 and I6 are first retion, while at the saine time a turn of the adleased from stop-plate 23, and the connection bejusting lever 26 ensures that the feelei's are disis turned on the axle engaged from the notched discs. By turning the work xed in the lathe using the stop positions determined by the adjustment of the discs, the right difference in diameter will be obtained, blut the initial diameter may be of any size. In order to obtain the correct size a. cylindrical machining of the work is made with shafts coupled up and the turning steel in a suitable position in the tool-holder of the cross-slide, whereupon the diameter obtained is gauged, and on depression of coupling button 32 drum Il and handwheel 8 are so adjusted that the reading of the scale corresponds to the diameter measured in tenths of millimetres. The shafts are then again coupled together by lifting the coupling button 3S. The device is now set to turning the right diameters, subject, however, in some cases to an error of not these diameters and in the same direction, namely the difference between the diameter` of the initial trial turning and the next measure of T16 millimetre either way.

In order to correct this error the whole casing system l, 2, iB in which it is suspended. This turning is done by means of a micrometer graduated adjusting screw 35, taken through a screw bushing 4l, affixed to the casing 5, and resting with one end against a fixed rod 48, projecting from the apron of the slide, which apron 1s not shown in the drawing. attached to the casing 5, presses against the other end of rod 48, so that the casing 5 is kept in the position determined by the adjusting screw M15. The head of the adjusting screw t6 may, for instance, be so graduated that a difference in reading of 20 graduations corresponds to a turning of the casing of the order of one tooth-space of the pawlwheel 3, or 1/80 revolution. It will thereby be possible to make an exact adjustment to turning diameters with an accuracy of 1/ioo millimetre. There is, however, nothing to prevent an adjustment with even greater accuracy. mentioned in the foregoing the embodiment shown is only to be considered an example, and the invention may be applied to other slide motions and the construction may be diiferent from that shown.

Having thus described claim is:

1. An adjustable stopping device for limiting the forward motion of a slide in machine tools and similar members in guidings, comprising a rotary driving spindle, two sets of notched discs individually driven by said spindle, one set rotating more slowly than the other set, a spring actuated tipping member, a slidable holder, two feelers rotatably carried by said holder and being coupled to said tipping member and thereby pressed against the circumference of the discs of each said set and engaging the notches thereof, when both notches coincide with the respective feelers, said tipping member being thereby uncoupled from said feelers and due to its spring actuation simultaneously tipped, a spring actuated stopping pawl, a ratchet wheel carried by said driving spindle, said stopping pawl coming into engagement with said ratchet wheel upon tipping of said tipping member and preventing further forward movement of the slide.

2. An adjustable stopping device for limiting the forward motion of a slide in machine tools and similar members in guidings, comprising a rotary driving spindle, twosets of notched discs my invention what I driven by said spindle, one set roslowly than the other set, a spring actuated tipping member, a slidable holder, two feelers rotatably carried by said holder and being coupled to said tipping member and thereby pressed against the circumference of the discs of each said set and engaging the notches thereof, when both notches coincide with the respective feelers, said tipping member being thereby uncoupled from said feelers and due to its spring actuation simultaneously tipped, a spring actuated stoping pawl, a ratchet wheel carried by said driving spindle, said stopping pawl coming into engagement with said ratchet wheel upon tipping of said tipping member and preventing further forward movement of the slide, a projection on each of said feelers, a spring actuated member, coupling members actuated by said spring member for causing the feelers to be pressed against the circumference of said notched discs, a spring device acting permanently on said feelers counteracting the pressing of the feelers but of insufficient strength to prevent the feelers being pressed against the discs, said feelers being by the tipping movement of said tipping member when said feelers engage the notches in said discs delivered from the action of said spring actuated member, the coupling elements being by this movement brought out of engagement, said spring device being thus enabled to bring said feelers out of engagement with said notches.

3. An adjustable stopping device for limiting the forward motion of a slide in machine tools and similar members in guidings, comprising a rotary driving spindle, two sets of notched discs individually driven by said spindle, one set rotating more slowly than the other set, a spring actuated tipping member, a slidable holder two feelers rotatably carried by said holder and being coupled to said tipping member and thereby pressed against the circumference of the discs of each said set and engaging the notches thereof, when both notches coincide with the respective feelers, said tipping member being thereby uncoupled from said feelers and due to its spring actuation simultaneously tipped, a spring actuated stopping pawl, a ratchet wheel carried by said driving spindle, said stopping pawl coming into engagement with said ratchet wheel upon tipping of said tipping member and preventing further forward movement of the slide, the two sets of discs being coaxially arranged, one set behind the other, each set rotating as a collective whole, the individual discs of each set being adjustably turnable independently of the other discs, the two feelers cooperating with said discs being arranged slidable along a line parallel with the axis of said discs so as to bring simultaneously in alignment each feeler respectively with a disc of each set of discs.

4. An adjustable stopping device for limiting the forward motion of a slide in machine tools and similar members in guidings, comprising a rotary driving spindle, two sets of notched discs individually driven bysaid spindle, one set rotating more slowly than the other set, a spring actuated tipping member, a slidable holder two feelers rotatably carried by said holder and being coupled to said tipping member and thereby pressed against the circumference of the discs :of each said set and engaging the notches thereof, when both notches coincide with respective feelers, said tipping member being thereby uncoupled from said feelers and due to its spring actuation simultaneously tipped, a spring actuindividually tating more spring actuation simultaneously tipped, a spring rotary driving spindle, two sets of notched discs individually driven 'ny said tating more slowly than the other set, a spring stopping device for limiting of a slide in machine tools into engagement with said ratchet wheel upon tipping of said tipping member and preventing further forward movement of the slide, the two sets of discs being coaxially arranged, one set behind the other, each set rotating as a collective whole, the individual discs oi each set being adjustably turnable independently of the other disc, the two eelers cooperating with said discs being arranged slidably along a line parallel with the axis of said discs so as to bring simultaneously in alignment each feeler respectively with a disc of each set of discs, the feelers being slidably arranged, an operating handle connected with the feelers to bring them in alignment alternately with corresponding pairs oi the notched discs, a curved disc connected to said handle and turned with the same, said disc having notches at diierent distances from its axis of rotation, a spring loaded guide tappet cooperating with said notches and being pressed against said curved disc, said guide tappet being connected with the sliclabh7 arranged eelers as to bring them in alignment with the different notched discs when said guide tappet rests in the notches of said curved disc, the ieelers being shifted from one position to another by turning said curved disc by means of said handle, a star-shaped disc carried by said handle and revolving with said curved disc, a release cooperating with the handle, said release by the action of the points of the starshaped di l sc upon turning actuating the tipping member to bring this member into coupling engagement with the feelers and the stopping pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Sweden May 28, 1946 

